Platform: Mac, Windows

Upon awakening in a run-down motel room, you hear a beeping sound. It seems to be coming from a tablet on the table across the room. A creepy message tells you the police are after you, to wash your face and get out. How did you get to the back end of nowhere, and what did you do to set the police on your trail? That's the set-up for a great new point-and-clickadventure title, The Cross Formula from KatGames, developers of the popular Dream Chronicles series.

As you retrace your steps from the week before, you begin to get clues as to who you might be and why you are on the run. Some unknown Big Brother controls the tablet that guides you, providing you with information — and warnings — along the way. Certain sights and sounds will trigger blackouts as you travel, and suddenly you are trying to figure out a piece of the formula you're searching for. What the formula might be, and what it has to do with you, are slowly revealed throughout the game.

Everything plays out in a very adventure-oriented kind of way. Items can be examined, taken, or otherwise interacted with by a simple click of the mouse. You can move to new areas by clicking certain parts of the screen, and a hint button at the bottom of the screen nudges you in the right direction if you're stuck. Your inventory also plays an important part in the game, both in terms of the story and with various puzzles you'll encounter as you progress.

Analysis: Adventure games are just about the keenest thing ever, but sometimes the puzzles are too obtuse for a casual player to solve without consulting a walkthrough. Difficult riddles are one thing, but spending your time trying to figure out what the puzzle designer was thinking so you can follow that twisted line of thought is another thing entirely. The Cross Formula elegantly sidesteps that problem with sensible item usages and story outcomes that never leave you in the dark.

The beautiful pastel hand-drawn art is rich in detail, from the torn wallpaper in the motel room to stains on the ceiling tiles in the lobby. Set in the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, the artwork draws on the color palette of the region, washing everything in bright white sunlight. Little touches add especial beauty to each scene, like the wind blowing outside the window of the motel lobby, or the sunshine streaming through rooftop windows in an underground bunker.

Sometimes, the map jumps you'll make are a bit disorienting, especially if you're familiar with the part of the world the game takes place in. One moment you're near Albuquerque, New Mexico, then you're in Arizona before suddenly hopping back to a mountainous region in southern NM. Fortunately, very little else pulls you out of the game's world, as even the mini-games fit the storyline. The high number of clickable objects is also a plus, even if it just provides you with a little information and isn't directly related to the tasks at hand.

In the end, no matter how gorgeous a game is or how good the gameplay, if it's over too soon, it's easy to feel cheated. The Cross Formula is a lengthy adventure, requiring two, three, or even four sittings to complete, even for the pickiest and most experienced of adventure nuts! It's a refreshing change of pace from the glut of hidden object adventure games that are flooding the market, from the artwork to the sound design and smartly-built puzzles. A great, unassuming game that will take you by surprise!

In the main menu, you can start a new game, select options, change your player profile, read instructions, or quit.

Options include fullscreen or windowed mode, custom or default cursor, game difficulty, and volume options.

Pick a difficulty level when you start a new game, or change it in the options menu.

Casual mode features a hint system and a tooltip system for items, and you can skip puzzles.

Expert mode doesn't have a hint or tooltip system, but you can still skip puzzles.

Challenge mode offers no hints, tooltips, or puzzle skipping.

In the main game, the pause button is in the bottm left corner. Here you can view the options menu or return to the main menu.

Once you pick it up, the Tablet is in the bottom right corner. Here you can view missions, locations, and bits of the formula to solve (see Flashback Puzzles below). You will also get periodic instructions from your tablet for what to do next.

Your cursor changes into a gear when you can interact with a scene, a magnifying glass when you can zoom in on something, a speech bubble when you can speak with someone, and a directional arrow when you can move to a new scene.

Your inventory is at the bottom. Click an inventory item, then click on a scene to use it. Use the scroll arrows on the left and right to see items out of view.

If you have an item someone needs, talk to them instead of using the item with them, unless they ask for it.

Flashback Puzzles

Throughout the game, Mark will experience flashbacks, which manifest as flashback puzzles.

Drag the letters and other shapes so they fit inside the highlighted areas without overlapping. You can also rotate pieces so they fit.

When the cursor is a hand, you can click and drag to move a piece.

When the cursor is a circular set of arrows, you can click and drag to rotate the piece.

When a piece glows and the game chimes, it means you have legally placed the piece. It does not necessarily mean you have placed the piece correctly.

For some puzzles, multiple solutions may be possible.

If you have trouble with the puzzle, just hit "back" so you can revisit it later.

You can check out all your flashback puzzles from your Tablet, via the Formula menu. Click a symbol to resume an incomplete puzzle. Gray symbols are complete, while white symbols are incomplete.

Main Walkthrough:The King

Escape the Room

Pick up the flashing Tablet on the desk. Read the note.

Open the door on the far left. Click the sink to run it. Note the code on the mirror.

Click the briefcase at the foot of the bed. Enter the code.

7492

Click again to open it, then click on the bomb.

Click and drag the numbers to arrange them as though they were a clock face. They'll turn green when they're properly positioned.

Use the Car Key on the key slot to the right of the steering wheel (You can change radio stations by clicking the buttons on the center console).

Mount the GPS on its spot in the middle of the windshield. Use the Cable on the right side of the GPS, then click the GPS to use it.

Push the button on the right to retrace your steps.

The Gas Station

Pay for Gas

Zoom in on the newspaper boxes to read more about yourself.

Talk to the attendant. Ask about who you are. Have him fill up the car for you.

You are now a debtor, but the door to the diner is now open; enter it.

After talking to Rachel, take the Plug from the far end of the counter (to the left of the cash register), then use it on the outlet near the jukebox.

Click the jukebox to open it, then click again to zoom in.

You need another doll. Click to zoom out, then go outside. Use one of your Coins (from the nightstand in the motel room, or from the compartment in your car) on the "Rock & Roll" vending machine. Take the Doll from the dispenser.

Go back inside, zoom in on the jukebox, and use the Doll on the middle spot to start a minigame.

Hit the "Start Music" button. Click the button for each animated silhouette so the doll below it performs the same dance move. The solution is random.

This puzzle is all about timing. You can try to watch both the silhoutte and doll animations to determine how the animation starts and base your timing that way. You may also have luck by just pushing the button as much as you can.

If the music stops, you have to hit the "Start Music" button again and start the puzzle over. Match all three dancers, and you fix the machine.

For your mechanical wizardry, Rachel pays you Cash ($200).

Go outside and use the Cash on the attendant.

Make Repairs

It's not your best day. Click the "Scrapyard" sign to go to the scrapyard, then grab the Crowbar, Fuses, Hose, Tire, and Carjack.

Give the attendant more Cash. He tells you to talk to the waitress again.

Sweepstakes and Flashbacks

Go inside and talk to Rachel. Ask her about her sweepstakes and offer to help. Help her complete the Spot the Difference game. The solutions are random but pretty easy. Click a spot on either side to mark it. Incorrect clicks won't leave a mark.

Go outside and zoom in on the table with the Blueprint. Use the Parts on the blueprint to start a minigame.

Click and drag the pieces to assemble the camera according to the blueprint. One part (labelled 1 on the blueprint) is fixed in place already, so you should build up from there. Parts will sparkle and lock in place when they are properly positioned.

Click the trunk of the car to open it, then click again to grab the Lighter.

Use the Lighter with the dynamite. Effective!

Click the console on the platform that appears to start a minigame.

The goal is to make all the diamond-shaped symbols disappear. Click one of the symbols and it will disappear. The nearest symbol it points to will also disappear; a chain reaction of disappearing symbols will continue until one symbol has nothing left to point to.

The solution is the same each time. You have three clicks to solve before the puzzle resets.

Click the middle monitor for the second test. It's a Stroop test: Click the name of the color of the word in the middle. You have 60 seconds to correctly complete the task 6 times: Mess up, and you have to start over. Click the red "X" button when you're done.

Click the rightmost monitor for the third task. Just click the icon you are told to click. The questions are random. You have 60 seconds to correctly complete the task 14 times: Mess up, and you have to start over. Click the red "X" button when you're done.

After finishing the tests, complete another flashback puzzle (see Flashback Puzzles above for how to solve).

Use the Key from the desk in the left room upstairs on the drawer beneath the aquarium.

Take the Fish Food and use it on the aquarium. Take the Chinese Safe Key.

Second Key

Place the colored Sticks in the holes atop the mask. The idea is to make it look like the poster in the left room upstairs. You'll have to experiment a bit; the happy-chime will sound when you place it correctly.

In the main menu, you can start a new game, select options, change your player profile, read instructions, or quit.

Options include fullscreen or windowed mode, custom or default cursor, game difficulty, and volume options.

Pick a difficulty level when you start a new game, or change it in the options menu.

Casual mode features a hint system and a tooltip system for items, and you can skip puzzles.

Expert mode doesn't have a hint or tooltip system, but you can still skip puzzles.

Challenge mode offers no hints, tooltips, or puzzle skipping.

In the main game, the pause button is in the bottm left corner. Here you can view the options menu or return to the main menu.

Once you pick it up, the Tablet is in the bottom right corner. Here you can view missions, locations, and bits of the formula to solve (see Flashback Puzzles below). You will also get periodic instructions from your tablet for what to do next.

Your cursor changes into a gear when you can interact with a scene, a magnifying glass when you can zoom in on something, a speech bubble when you can speak with someone, and a directional arrow when you can move to a new scene.

Your inventory is at the bottom. Click an inventory item, then click on a scene to use it. Use the scroll arrows on the left and right to see items out of view.

If you have an item someone needs, talk to them instead of using the item with them, unless they ask for it.

Flashback Puzzles

Throughout the game, Mark will experience flashbacks, which manifest as flashback puzzles.

Drag the letters and other shapes so they fit inside the highlighted areas without overlapping. You can also rotate pieces so they fit.

When the cursor is a hand, you can click and drag to move a piece.

When the cursor is a circular set of arrows, you can click and drag to rotate the piece.

When a piece glows and the game chimes, it means you have legally placed the piece. It does not necessarily mean you have placed the piece correctly.

For some puzzles, multiple solutions may be possible.

If you have trouble with the puzzle, just hit "back" so you can revisit it later.

You can check out all your flashback puzzles from your Tablet, via the Formula menu. Click a symbol to resume an incomplete puzzle. Gray symbols are complete, while white symbols are incomplete.

Main Walkthrough:The King

Escape the Room

Pick up the flashing Tablet on the desk. Read the note.

Open the door on the far left. Click the sink to run it. Note the code on the mirror.

Click the briefcase at the foot of the bed. Enter the code.

7492

Click again to open it, then click on the bomb.

Click and drag the numbers to arrange them as though they were a clock face. They'll turn green when they're properly positioned.

Use the Car Key on the key slot to the right of the steering wheel (You can change radio stations by clicking the buttons on the center console).

Mount the GPS on its spot in the middle of the windshield. Use the Cable on the right side of the GPS, then click the GPS to use it.

Push the button on the right to retrace your steps.

The Gas Station

Pay for Gas

Zoom in on the newspaper boxes to read more about yourself.

Talk to the attendant. Ask about who you are. Have him fill up the car for you.

You are now a debtor, but the door to the diner is now open; enter it.

After talking to Rachel, take the Plug from the far end of the counter (to the left of the cash register), then use it on the outlet near the jukebox.

Click the jukebox to open it, then click again to zoom in.

You need another doll. Click to zoom out, then go outside. Use one of your Coins (from the nightstand in the motel room, or from the compartment in your car) on the "Rock & Roll" vending machine. Take the Doll from the dispenser.

Go back inside, zoom in on the jukebox, and use the Doll on the middle spot to start a minigame.

Hit the "Start Music" button. Click the button for each animated silhouette so the doll below it performs the same dance move. The solution is random.

This puzzle is all about timing. You can try to watch both the silhoutte and doll animations to determine how the animation starts and base your timing that way. You may also have luck by just pushing the button as much as you can.

If the music stops, you have to hit the "Start Music" button again and start the puzzle over. Match all three dancers, and you fix the machine.

For your mechanical wizardry, Rachel pays you Cash ($200).

Go outside and use the Cash on the attendant.

Make Repairs

It's not your best day. Click the "Scrapyard" sign to go to the scrapyard, then grab the Crowbar, Fuses, Hose, Tire, and Carjack.

Give the attendant more Cash. He tells you to talk to the waitress again.

Sweepstakes and Flashbacks

Go inside and talk to Rachel. Ask her about her sweepstakes and offer to help. Help her complete the Spot the Difference game. The solutions are random but pretty easy. Click a spot on either side to mark it. Incorrect clicks won't leave a mark.

Go outside and zoom in on the table with the Blueprint. Use the Parts on the blueprint to start a minigame.

Click and drag the pieces to assemble the camera according to the blueprint. One part (labelled 1 on the blueprint) is fixed in place already, so you should build up from there. Parts will sparkle and lock in place when they are properly positioned.

Click the trunk of the car to open it, then click again to grab the Lighter.

Use the Lighter with the dynamite. Effective!

Click the console on the platform that appears to start a minigame.

The goal is to make all the diamond-shaped symbols disappear. Click one of the symbols and it will disappear. The nearest symbol it points to will also disappear; a chain reaction of disappearing symbols will continue until one symbol has nothing left to point to.

The solution is the same each time. You have three clicks to solve before the puzzle resets.

Click the middle monitor for the second test. It's a Stroop test: Click the name of the color of the word in the middle. You have 60 seconds to correctly complete the task 6 times: Mess up, and you have to start over. Click the red "X" button when you're done.

Click the rightmost monitor for the third task. Just click the icon you are told to click. The questions are random. You have 60 seconds to correctly complete the task 14 times: Mess up, and you have to start over. Click the red "X" button when you're done.

After finishing the tests, complete another flashback puzzle (see Flashback Puzzles above for how to solve).

Use the Key from the desk in the left room upstairs on the drawer beneath the aquarium.

Take the Fish Food and use it on the aquarium. Take the Chinese Safe Key.

Second Key

Place the colored Sticks in the holes atop the mask. The idea is to make it look like the poster in the left room upstairs. You'll have to experiment a bit; the happy-chime will sound when you place it correctly.

Interesting game but I disagree with the reviewer about length - the game took me 1.5 hrs in one go without the use of any hints. The puzzles were generally very easy and didn't require much thought to beat. If the story was a bit more involving I'd be more forgiving but there was nothing new here and the ending seemed sudden and left things unresolved. Neat but not worth the $$ imo.

I don't know if this is an issue with the game or the Big Fish Game Manager, but I just bought the full version after playing the 1-hour trial (taking advantage of the Memorial Day sale :)), and while the game remembered my last location, it lost everything I'd done up to that point.

I learned this because I'm now at the final scene where you need all the flashback puzzles to be solved, and my first three are missing. And I don't mean incomplete, the icons are not there to begin with. The locations those puzzles came from are also not saved in the tablet. So now I have to restart the game because I can't get out of this screen without having everything complete

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